In the clever French movie In the House (Dans la maison), we met a high school literature teacher who is continually disappointed by his lackluster students. Then a new student shows a special talent for creative writing. Every day after school, the teacher provides extra coaching to the young writer, who starts spinning an episodic tale about his creepy infiltration of his friend’s family. We want to know what’s gonna happen in the next installment, and the teacher becomes hooked – even obsessed. Although the teacher is supposedly the mentor, soon the student is controlling the teacher.
The wonderful French actor Fabrice Luchini plays the teacher. Luchini is a master at playing socially awkward and inappropriate situations a la Seinfeld, Larry David and, of course, Woody Allen. (In my favorite Fabrice Luchini movie Intimate Strangers, he plays a tax lawyer who can’t bring himself to tell a woman that she’s sat down in the wrong office – thinking that she’s seeing a new therapist, she’s unburdening the intimate details of her marriage.)
In the House’s cleverness is not surprising, because it is directed by Francois Ozon (Swimming Pool, 8 Women, Potiche). Always her best in French films, Kristin Scott Thomas is very good as the teacher’s wife.
In the House is a funny and slightly creepy exploration of the creative writing process – and altogether satisfying.
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